Iran yesterday assured it would facilitate the release of 18 Filipino sailors onboard an American oil tanker seized by the Iranian Navy off the coast of Oman amid the worsening Middle East crisis that stemmed from the war on Gaza.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo De Vega said the agency is monitoring the condition of the Pinoy crew members while waiting for an official report from its embassy in Iran.

Iranian Ambassador to the Philippines Yousef Esmaeilzadeh, De Vega said, has committed to aiding the Philippine government in the safe and immediate release of the crew members.

“The Iranian ambassador has promised assistance, so there’s the confirmation that it (the ship) was captured. So, we’re just ascertaining the condition of our 18 seafarers,” De Vega said in a radio interview.

“They were not taken hostage; this is a different situation because what the Iranians targeted [was] the ship itself, so in a way, collateral damage to the crew. So, we’re confident that they will not be harmed and that they will be released in time,” he added.

While the Iranian Embassy has not released information on the status of the Filipino seamen at this time, De Vega posits that “there is no indication that they are being harmed or mistreated.”

 “The Iranian ambassador assured that they would work on it so that they would be released as soon as possible,” he said.

Retaliation claimed

Iran’s Navy seized the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker St. Nikolas in the Gulf of Oman in retaliation for the “theft” of its oil from the same tanker last year by the United States.

The announcement of the seizure came hours after a British Navy maritime security agency said armed men had boarded the Greek-owned, r-flagged St. Nikolas off Oman and changed course towards Bandar-e Jask in Iran.

Four or five “unauthorized boarders are reported to be wearing military-style black uniforms with black masks,” according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

Iran’s navy later confirmed it had seized the ship, previously called the Suez Rajan.

Migrant Workers Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan said the Department of Foreign Affairs, or DFA, and the Department of Migrant Workers, or DMW, were closely coordinating with the Iranian government to seek updates on the condition of Filipino seafarers.

“As of now, there’s a good update: they are in good condition. The DFA and the DMW are closely monitoring their situation,” Caunan said in a Quezon City forum.

Houthi targets struck

The United States, meanwhile, carried out a fresh strike Saturday on a Houthi rebel target in Yemen, US Central Command said, after the Iran-backed militants warned of further attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The strike on a Houthi radar site comes a day after scores of attacks across the country heightened fears that Israel’s war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas could engulf the wider region.

The Iran-backed terrorists’ official media earlier said the Al-Dailami airbase in Yemen’s rebel-held capital of Sanaa had been struck.

The Houthis, who have carried out weeks of attacks on Israel-linked shipping in protest of the Israel-Hamas war, warned that US and British interests were “legitimate targets” after the first volley of strikes. Britain, the United States, and eight allies said strikes carried out on Friday had aimed to “de-escalate tensions,” but the Houthis vowed to continue their attacks.”

The rebels’ Supreme Political Council said all American-British interests had become legitimate targets” following the strikes.

The Huthis have intensified attacks on what they deem Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea — through which 12 percent of global maritime trade normally passes — since Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war on 7 October.

The United States and Britain launched strikes on Friday that targeted nearly 30 locations using more than 150 munitions, US General Douglas Sims said, updating earlier figures. In contrast, President Joe Biden said he did not believe there were civilian casualties.